Watchcase with locking means



Oct. 2, 1951 J. SIMON 2,569,619

WATCHCASE WITH LOCKING MEANS Filed March 16, 1949 mm: VIIIIIIII/I/l, 2

Patented Oct. 2, 1951 OFFICE 2,569,619 WATCHCASE WITH LOCKING MEANS John Simon, Tramelan, Switzerland Application March 16, 1949, Serial No. 81,743 In Switzerland March 17, 1948 Claims.

' This invention relates to a leak-proof watch case, this case including at least two parts fitting within each other and leaving between apposite lateral faces thereof, on at least one side of the case a free space opening to the outside through the bottom of the case and housing a clamping device cooperating with both parts, which comprise an upper part and a lower part.

As features of the case, object of this invention, with respect to the apposite walls of the component parts defining the free space, one of said walls, preferably that of the lower part, is provided at or near its top edge with a flanged portion extending to or near the apposite wall of the other component part, whereas the apposite wall of said other component part, preferably the upper part, is provided with a rectilinear groove parallel with the flanged portion, and con nected by two secondary grooves to the lower face of the case, each clamping device includes one pair of arms articulated together at one end about a swivel joint, whereas their free ends are provided with a slit to give them resilience, and with a pin, the whole being arranged in such a way that, when the pair of arms of a clamping device is disposed in a V-shaped position, both pins can be introduced into the groove through the aforesaid secondary grooves, after which, by pressing on the articulation, both arms of the clamping device are forced toward and into the ends of said rectilinear groove, thereby assuming a rectilinear position within said free space, while their resilient ends press against the aforesaid flanged portion.

As further features of this invention, the side wall of that component part in which the grooves are located also carries at or near its top edge a flanged extension directed toward the apposite side wall of the other component part; said flanged extension forms an abutment cooperating with the flanged portion of said other component part; thus, under the pressure exerted by the clamping member against said flanged portion, the latter and the abutment form a tight joint between the upper and lower component parts of the case, which is then rendered leakproof. The edge of the glass, and a packing or gasket may be inserted between the abutment and the flanged portion, and are held in leakproof position by the action of the clamping member.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, in which similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all the figures, the drawings showing, merely as an example, a form of execution of the present invention.

Fig. 1 is a view from below of my improved watch component.

Fig. 2 shows a cross section according to IIII of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section according to III-III of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a cross section similar to that of Fig. 3, but in which the clamping device is omitted.

Fig. 5 is a view of the clamping device alone, shown in its V-shaped position for its introduction into the free space provided between the two cooperating component parts of the case.

The casing of a watch-case according to this invention includes an upper window-shaped frame I provided on apposite sides with hooks 2, a bottom part 3, a glass 4 as well as a packing 5. Two free spaces 6 are provided between the apposite lateral faces of the bottom part and of the window-shaped frame, on the sides carrying the hooks. In the bottom part, the lateral face 3a, limiting a free space, is provided with a flanged portion 3b, whereas the apposite wall la of the window-shaped frame is provided with a rectilinear groove 1, parallel to the flanged portion 3b. Two secondary grooves 8 connect groove 1 with the bottom face of the watch case (Fig. 4) A hole 9 is provided intermediate, for instance midway of; the length of the side of the window-shaped frame; this hole is intended for receiving a screw H] which, in turn, cooperates with the clamping device as hereafter described. The clamping device, represented on Fig. 5, includes two arms I l, articulated at one of their ends about a swivel joint or hinge I2. Each of their other ends is provided with a slit I3 which gives resiliency to the arm, and bears a pin I 4 intended to penetrate into the groove 1.

The top edge of wall la of window-frame I forms a flanged extension lb directed toward the plane of wall 3a and serving as abutment for flanged portion 3b under the pressure of the clamping device.

The assembling of the case is carried out as follows: The glass 4 provided with its packing 5 is introduced into the window-shaped frame I. The bottom 3 is then fitted into the windowshaped frame and presses the glass as well as the packing against the frame. Finally the arms II of a clamping device are introduced into a space 6, the pins l4 being pushed through the secondary grooves 8 and penetrating into the groove 1. By pressing on the articulation l2 the pins H are pushed to the farthest ends of the groove 1; the

arms ll dispose themselves in a straight line (Fig. 3) and their resilient ends press elastically against the flanged portion 3b which is thereby brought to bear, directly or through glass 4 and packing 5, against abutment lb, thereby making the entire assembly of the case tight and leakproof. The resiliency of pieces I l allows them to exert their pressure in spite of the tolerated inaccuracies of dimensions and of the interference of external factors such as temperature variations.

When the pieces H are in clamping position (Fig. 3), the hinged articulation l2, which is provided with a centered tapped hole 12a, is in front of the hole 9. The screw I9 is now introduced into the hole 9 and screwed in hole 12a so as to keep the arms i I in clamping position.

What I claim is:

l. A leak-proof watch case comprising in combination: an upper window-shaped frame; a lower closure frame having a bottom plane; said upper and lower frames being adapted. and constructed to fit within each other; a free space between apposite lateral walls of said upper and lower frames on at least one side of said case, said space being open to said bottom plane; a flanged portion disposed substantially at the top edge of the lateral wall of a first one of said frames and directed toward the apposite lateral wall of the other frame and forming the upper wall of said free space; an abutment substantially at the top of said apposite wall of said other frame and directed toward the plane of the apposite lateral wall of said first frame and cooperating with said flanged portion; in said apposite wall of said other frame, a rectilinear groove substantially parallel to said flanged portion and two secondary grooves between said rectilinear groove and said bottom plane: a clamping device adapted to fit in said free space, said clamping device comprising two substantially rigid arms hinged together at one of their ends about a swivel-joint and having at their other end a slit adapted to give resiliency to said arms and a projecting pin; whereby said upper and lower frames are made fast together by inserting said pins in said secondary grooves and pushing on said swivel-joint until said clamping member has assumed a rectilinear clamping position in said rectilinear groove and in said free space, and presses against said flanged portion.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a tapped hole centered in said swiveljoint; a hole through said apposite wall of said other frame, substantially at the level of said rectilinear groove, and arranged and constructed to face said tapped hole when said clamping member has assumed said rectilinear clamping position in said rectilinear groove; and locking means cooperating with said holes to maintain said clamping member in said clamping position.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: locking means cooperating with said other frame and said clamping means to maintain the latter in clamping position in said free space.

4. A leak-proof watch case comprising in combination an upper and outer window-shaped frame; a lower and inner closure frame having a bottom plane, said inner frame being adapted to fit within said outer frame; a free space between apposite lateral walls of said frames on at least one side of said case, said space being open to said bottom plane; a flanged portion substantially at the top of the lateral wall of said inner frame and directed toward the apposite wall of said outer frame and forming the upper wall of said free space; an abutment substantially at the top of said outer frame and directed toward the plane of the apposite lateral wall of said inner frame and cooperating with said flanged portion; in said apposite lateral wall of said outer frame, a rectilinear groove substantially parallel to said flanged portion, and two secondary grooves between said rectilinear groove and said bottom plane; a clamping device adapted to fit in said free space, said clamping device comprising two substantially rigid arms hinged together at one of their ends about a swivel-joint and having at their other end a slit adapted to give resiliency to said arms and a projecting pin; whereby said inner and outer frames are made fast together by inserting said pins in said secondary grooves and pushing on said swivel-joint until said clamping member has assumed a rectilinear clamping position in said rectilinear groove and in said free space, and presses against said flanged portion.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4, further comprising: locking means cooperating with said outer frame and with said clamping member to maintain the latter in clamping position in said free space.

JOHN SIMON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle of this patent:

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 212,676 Switzerland Mar. 17, 1941 239,993 Switzerland Mar. 16, 1946 848,767 France July 31, 1939 

